GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — An Ohio woman on a multi-day backpacking trip in Grand Canyon National Park was found dead in an Arizona portion of the park on Sunday of apparent heat-related causes, rangers said.
Michelle Meder, 53, of Hudson, Ohio, was on a trip from the Hermit Trail to Bright Angel Trail, became disoriented Saturday and lost consciousness, KTVX reported.
Rangers located Meder’s body on Sunday and believe her cause of death to be heat related, the TV station reported.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the high temperature in the area Sunday was about 115 degrees.
In turn, Grand Canyon National Park rangers are strongly advising hikers to avoid the inner canyon during the peak heat hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and cautioned that summer temperatures along exposed portions of the trail can exceed 120 degrees in the shade, the newspaper reported.
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner, KTVX reported.
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